Mum’s cancer fears after hospital delays tests appointment

A WORRIED mum is calling for answers after she was told she could develop cancer but would have to wait indefinitely for further tests.

Joanne Cole, 37, received a letter from Basildon Hospital three weeks ago telling her it had found abnormal cells after she went for a routine smear test.

It said they would be in touch to organise further tests by May 1, with her appointment no later than May 22.

However, Mrs Cole, of Billericay, was stunned when she received a phone call from the hospital telling her that due to staff shortages it did not know when her appointment would be. Mrs Cole said: “They just said there weren’t any appointments. It’s disgusting.

“I spoke to one who said the chances are I’m fine, but if not then it’s treatable anyway. But I don’t want it to have to get to that stage where it needs treating at all.”

Mrs Cole, a mum of two, said she had not been offered another hospital to attend and has not been given a time when an appointment could become available. Her worried husband Paul Connelly has insisted she go privately so she is tested as soon as possible. But it means they are paying £500.

He said: “It’s so frustrating because that letter is scary.

“The word ‘cancer’ does appear in the letter and it frightens the life out of you. And then you find you can’t get an appointment. I am 52 and have always paid into my national insurance and so has Jo. It’s ridiculous we are having this problem, £500 is a lot of money”

A spokesman for Basildon Hospital said: “We would urge Mrs Cole to contact our PALS department so we can investigate her concerns properly.

“Wewere unable to look into it further or provide further information because of the bank holiday

Comments (5)

Really infuriates me when these so called hospitals say
CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE BANK HOLIDAY
does all life stop at these hospitals, all hospitals should have staff working on rotas like they must do in A@E and have a day off later, what do people do on bank holidays anyway. some people would rather have another day in lieu. my husband is waiting for a urine test and we have had to wait since last Friday and still have no result.
When I worked at the bt telephone exchange we were rostered to work all bank holidays and if you didnt like it buggar off to another job. A hospital is far more important that a telephone exchange and this lady wants answers, speak to your MP. Good Luck
wHEN I WORKED AT THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

Really infuriates me when these so called hospitals say
CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE BANK HOLIDAY
does all life stop at these hospitals, all hospitals should have staff working on rotas like they must do in A@E and have a day off later, what do people do on bank holidays anyway. some people would rather have another day in lieu. my husband is waiting for a urine test and we have had to wait since last Friday and still have no result.
When I worked at the bt telephone exchange we were rostered to work all bank holidays and if you didnt like it buggar off to another job. A hospital is far more important that a telephone exchange and this lady wants answers, speak to your MP. Good Luck
wHEN I WORKED AT THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGECHRISTMAS CAROL

And along with the news today that nurses are blowing the whistle on understaffing in hospitals, it just goes to show the NHS is not safe in the hands of the Coalition.

Of course the rot started with Labour and its various schemes including mass uncontrolled immigration and Agenda for Change, that basically did away with paying decent wages to people and making hospitals into germ ridden hellholes.

And to think it was Aneurin Bevin (Labour) that funded the NHS. He will be spinning in his grave.

What a pity we don't have any great statesmen like that nowadays. This is a most urgent problem and needs sorting as a matter of priority. It's been going on far too long - and I know only too well the culture of fear inside the care system.

Understaffing is a huge problem - and then they go and pay for outside staff that cost twice as much and are not as efficient.

There are also hundreds of immigrants within the system and some cannot speak the language and do not have the relevant qualifications.

The newspapers have been full of reports of these incidents but nothing is done.

I personally know of a senior nurse giving out medication on a ward; she could not speak English so why the h3ll was she handing out drugs to people?

The NHS is riven with problems - mostly caused by the top heavy management system of too many executives, mostly who couldn't run the proverbial in a brewery.

What's need is more front line staff and we have been saying it for years but nobody is listening.

Mainly because the politicians mostly have private medical insurance.

Still, keep voting the same old rubbish and that is what you will get. Not voting at all? Don't complain then.

Absolutely scandalous.
And along with the news today that nurses are blowing the whistle on understaffing in hospitals, it just goes to show the NHS is not safe in the hands of the Coalition.
Of course the rot started with Labour and its various schemes including mass uncontrolled immigration and Agenda for Change, that basically did away with paying decent wages to people and making hospitals into germ ridden hellholes.
And to think it was Aneurin Bevin (Labour) that funded the NHS. He will be spinning in his grave.
What a pity we don't have any great statesmen like that nowadays. This is a most urgent problem and needs sorting as a matter of priority. It's been going on far too long - and I know only too well the culture of fear inside the care system.
Understaffing is a huge problem - and then they go and pay for outside staff that cost twice as much and are not as efficient.
There are also hundreds of immigrants within the system and some cannot speak the language and do not have the relevant qualifications.
The newspapers have been full of reports of these incidents but nothing is done.
I personally know of a senior nurse giving out medication on a ward; she could not speak English so why the h3ll was she handing out drugs to people?
The NHS is riven with problems - mostly caused by the top heavy management system of too many executives, mostly who couldn't run the proverbial in a brewery.
What's need is more front line staff and we have been saying it for years but nobody is listening.
Mainly because the politicians mostly have private medical insurance.
Still, keep voting the same old rubbish and that is what you will get. Not voting at all? Don't complain then.Kim Gandy

Strange how NHS England are killing off our GP's with so many demands being made on them, yet hospitals still only work office hours with weekends and band holidays off.

My GP works 70 hours a week and provides an excellent kind and caring service, (can't be said for all GP's) yet outpatients, clinics and basic services in hospitals still don't get the message that folk cannot be 'sick by appointment'.

All hospital departments should be open 24/7, the same kind of service NHS England are demanding from GP's!

Strange how NHS England are killing off our GP's with so many demands being made on them, yet hospitals still only work office hours with weekends and band holidays off.
My GP works 70 hours a week and provides an excellent kind and caring service, (can't be said for all GP's) yet outpatients, clinics and basic services in hospitals still don't get the message that folk cannot be 'sick by appointment'.
All hospital departments should be open 24/7, the same kind of service NHS England are demanding from GP's!runwellian

runwellian wrote:
Strange how NHS England are killing off our GP's with so many demands being made on them, yet hospitals still only work office hours with weekends and band holidays off.

My GP works 70 hours a week and provides an excellent kind and caring service, (can't be said for all GP's) yet outpatients, clinics and basic services in hospitals still don't get the message that folk cannot be 'sick by appointment'.

All hospital departments should be open 24/7, the same kind of service NHS England are demanding from GP's!

Exactly what I said , we are still in the dark ages, they are not office workers

[quote][p][bold]runwellian[/bold] wrote:
Strange how NHS England are killing off our GP's with so many demands being made on them, yet hospitals still only work office hours with weekends and band holidays off.
My GP works 70 hours a week and provides an excellent kind and caring service, (can't be said for all GP's) yet outpatients, clinics and basic services in hospitals still don't get the message that folk cannot be 'sick by appointment'.
All hospital departments should be open 24/7, the same kind of service NHS England are demanding from GP's![/p][/quote]Exactly what I said , we are still in the dark ages, they are not office workersCHRISTMAS CAROL